Mitchell Bests Road Partner in Flamingo Finals
Flamingo Billiards Tour / Fort Pierce, FL
by InsidePOOL Staff
Gas money was no problem on the ride home for Stephanie Mitchell and Sabra MacArthur-Beahn as the two took home the top prizes in the $250-added Flamingo Billiards Tour stop held October 24. The pair had road-tripped together across the state to Ultimate Billiards in Fort Pierce, FL, where Mitchell found herself in the driver’s seat by defeating MacArthur-Beahn 7-5 in the finals.
But the road wasn’t easy for either player. MacArthur-Beahn had a shaky start with a loss to Shanelle Loraine 7-2, but she grew stronger as the day wore on, defeating Janis Sessions 7-4 and Mimi McAndrews 7-1. After topping Amy Poulter 7-4, MacArthur-Beahn’s dead stroke was catching everyone’s eyes.
Mitchell bested Vanessa Seaver 7-3 and McAndrews 7-3 before being sent to the left side after a hill-hill bout with Niki Rasmussen 7-6. But she quickly rebounded by defeating Robin Boggs 7-2.
On the modified double-elimination redraw, Jeannie Seaver defeated Helene Caukin 7-4, Christie Cloke squeaked by Emily Wilmoth 7-6, and MacArthur-Beahn defeated Michell Monk 7-4. In a rematch of their previous double-hill set, Mitchell and Rasmussen paired up and again went hill-hill, but this time Mitchell prevailed. When the dust settled, three of the four winners’ side finalists were now on the other side of the rail.
In the semifinals, MacArthur-Beahn matched up with Cloke, who made an impressive showing in just her second regional tour event. Each player capitalized on 9 ball combos early in the match, but with the score 4-3, MacArthur-Beahn caught stroke and went on to win the next three games and the match.
For the third time in a long afternoon, Mitchell found herself in a hill-hill situation as she matched up with Seaver. The game started badly for Seaver with an inadvertent hand foul that affected the 1 ball’s roll. Seaver fouled on both 1 ball safes by Mitchell, and the match ended on the three-foul rule.
Gas money was no problem on the ride home for Stephanie Mitchell and Sabra MacArthur-Beahn as the two took home the top prizes in the $250-added Flamingo Billiards Tour stop held October 24. (L to R): Sabra MacArthur-Beahn (2nd Place), Gary Gilsinan (Ultimate Billiards), Stephanie Mitchell (1st Place)
In the finals, MacArthur-Beahn went up 4-1 with well-timed safety play setting up long run-outs. After a long day of double-hill matches, Mitchell ran the table in the sixth and eighth racks, caromed the 9 ball early in the ninth, and capitalized on MacArthur-Beahn’s rare misses to take the next two racks. With Mitchell suddenly on the hill 6-5, MacArthur-Beahn made two balls on the break and left the 4 ball hanging. Later, with the 4 ball deep in the pocket and the 5 ball causing shot and shape problems, MacArthur-Beahn missed a kick at the 4 and gave up ball in hand. Mitchell made short work of the rack, running five balls and taking the match 7-5.
Results:
1st Stephanie Mitchell $370
2nd Sabra MacArthur-Beahn $250
3rd Christie Cloke $130
Jeannie Seaver
5th Michell Monk $80
Emily Wilmoth
Niki Rasmussen
Helene Caukin